Child killer Lucy Letby is making a bid to appeal her conviction for the attempted murder of a baby girl, known as Child K. Lucy Letby, a former nurse, was sentenced to a 15th whole life order for the attempted murder, following a retrial in July. The Court of Appeal will hear her appeal, where three senior judges will consider her request for approval to challenge the conviction. This comes after Letby was previously sentenced to 14 whole life orders for the murders of seven infants and the attempted murders of six others.
The crimes were committed within the neonatal unit of Countess of Chester Hospital between June 2015 and June 2016. In the case of Child K, Letby was accused of trying to kill the newborn by dislodging her breathing tube during a night shift. The infant, who was described as “very premature,” was rescued by a colleague, Dr. Ravi Jayaram, who intervened and resuscitated the baby. Letby denied the allegations, stating that she had no recollection of the incident.
During the retrial at Manchester Crown Court, the jury took only three-and-a-half hours to convict Letby of the attempted murder of Child K. The sentencing judge highlighted the vulnerability of the baby and condemned the act as a “shocking act of calculated callous cruelty.” Letby’s barrister plans to apply to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) to review her case for any potential miscarriages of justice.
A public inquiry, chaired by judge Lady Justice Thirlwall, is ongoing to investigate the events surrounding Letby’s crimes, aiming to conclude in early 2025. The judge expressed concern over the impact of public commentary on the case, emphasizing the distress caused to the families involved. A court order prohibits the disclosure of the identities of the children affected by the case.
The hearing at the Court of Appeal is scheduled to take place before three senior judges. The outcome of Letby’s appeal will be closely watched, as the legal process continues to unfold in this tragic case of child murders and attempted murders.